Our friend the film
critic likes to do all his filing in clear-plastic, envelope-style
sheets, secured in binders from Muji. What?!?!?! You don’t
know Muji? Well, soon you will. A Japan-based retailer -- with
over 300 stores in its homeland, and another 69 stores around the
world -- Muji sells environmentally conscious, minimalist housewares,
paper goods, furniture, clothing, fabrics, accessories, and all kinds
of things that you never knew you’d need or want, but need or
want the minute you see them at Muji. And they’re cheap --
really cheap. Everything has a very less-is-more look and is well
designed and clever. Muji will be opening in the Renzo
Piano-designed new New York Times building at 620 Eighth
Ave. btw. 40th & 41st Sts. Muji is the first tenant to
sign a retail lease for the building, and is expected to open for the
holiday season this year. (The name comes from the Japanese words
mujirushi ryohin, which more or less means "no-brand
quality goods.")

About the Author: About the Author: Ruth J. Katz is a well-known shopping and service writer based in New York City. She has written about shopping for 25 years for New York magazine; covered the topic on-air at Fox-TV for several years as the Home Services expert; and had her own show on both the USA and Lifetime Cable networks. Katz wrote extensively for The New York Times as well, and contributed periodically to the New York Daily News. She is a passionate shopper, always looking for not merely a good buy, but the best buy, ferreting out a "steal" or discovering up-and-coming designers. She has written five books and is a former contributing editor to Hearst's Redbook, Classic Home, and Colonial Homes; she is currently a Contributing Editor of New York Home, Golf Connoisseur, The Modern Estate, and Promenade magazines. She is also the former Shopping Director for Davler Media's Manhattan Living.

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